Burnley Review vs Liverpool

Liverpool had to come from behind to defeat Burnley at Turf Moor this evening, but the 3-1 scoreline flattered the visitors after a gutsy display from the Clarets.

For an hour Liverpool had been subdued as Burnley played with an intensity that had seemed to desert them in previous games this season.

The Clarets made changes as predicted, with the injured Defour being replaced by Westwood, James Tarkowski returning in place of Kevin Long, Phil Bardsley coming in for Matt Lowton and Ashley Barnes starting up front alongside Chris Wood, instead of the deeper lying Jeff Hendrick.

Burnley went closest in the first half after a good move that fell to Chris Wood, who tried to cut inside onto his right foot, when shooting immediately with his left had seemed a better option. The Clarets also had the ball in the net, but the goal was chalked off for offside, despite the emphatic finish from Ashley Barnes.

Shortly after half time, Jack Cork poked the ball home to give Burnley a deserved lead after Alisson could not gather the ball from a corner, but Liverpool hit back with three goals – firstly Milner equalised just five minutes after Burnley’s opener, then substitute Firmino scored with his first touch.

In a frantic finale Shaqiri scored Liverpool’s third as they counter attacked just moments after Alisson had saved superbly to deny Ben Mee.

One swallow doesn’t make a summer, but this was an altogether better performance from Burnley, who pushed Liverpool hard. It’s too early to say if this represents a return to form, but the Clarets genuinely looked like the team that achieved so much last season. Brighton are Burnley’s visitors at the weekend and a performance of tonight’s calibre should be sufficient to see Burnley finally collect some points.